Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati will be buried on March 8, 2025, at his home in Sabata village, near Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, his family has confirmed.
Chebukati’s Battle with Illness
According to family spokesperson Eric Wafula Nyongesa, Chebukati had been battling brain cancer, which led to multiple surgeries and hospital admissions before his passing.
The former IEBC chair was first diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery in Germany to remove it.
However, in April 2024, doctors discovered that the tumor had returned, prompting another trip to Germany for a second operation.
After returning to Kenya, his health continued to decline, and he was admitted to the hospital in December 2024.
He was later readmitted on February 12, 2025, where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A week later, on February 20, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away.
Family Dispels Rumors
Nyongesa dismissed rumors that had circulated on social media suggesting that Chebukati had been declared “clinically dead” before his official passing.
“At no time was the immediate family called upon and informed that he was clinically dead,” Nyongesa clarified.
The family has scheduled a post-mortem examination as part of preparations for the burial.
Chebukati’s Legacy
Born on December 22, 1961, Wafula Chebukati attended Lenana High School before enrolling at the University of Nairobi (UoN), where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law.
He served as IEBC chairperson from 2017 to 2023, overseeing Kenya’s 2017 and 2022 general elections.
His tenure was marked by both electoral reforms and political controversies, but he remained a key figure in shaping Kenya’s electoral process.
As the country prepares to bid farewell to the former electoral chief, leaders and citizens continue to reflect on his contributions to Kenya’s democracy
